Jalousie window structures



March 26, 1968 c. w, DUQLQN ET AL 3,374,576

JALOUS IE WINDOW STRUCTURES Filed April 7, 1 966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I a 47 fli/z/raas Clerc/A M 2906:1022

con 542 Ala/Q6424 March 1968 c. w. DUCLON ET AL 3,374,575

JALOUSIE WINDOW STRUCTURES Filed April 7, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 CEC/Z MUl/CZQ Z [072242 J 0 8514% United States Patent Ofifice 3,374,576 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,374,576 JALOUSIE WINDOW STRUCTIIRES Cecil W. Duclon, 834 W. Crestline Ave., Llttleton, Colo. 80120, and Conrad J. Morgan, 1300 Kennamer Drive SE. Huntsville Ala. 35801 Filed A r. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 540,926

8 Claims. (CI. 49-81) This invention relates to a jalousi Window Structure of improved design and construction.

We are aware that there have been numerous alousie window structures proposed but inevitably they have all been subject to one or another serious objection, principal among these being that the louvers would not fit tightly enough on one another when closed and, consequently, the windows were drafty. It is, therefore, the principal object of our invention to provide a jalousie window structure in which, by reason of the novel way in ,WhlCh the louvers are not only interhooked along adjacent edges for a good sealing action, but the series of louvers are moreover designed to be drawn up tightly from one end after the interhooking, good air-tight joints are insured throughout the structure.

Our construction includes the following additional novel features:

(1) A cam and twin rail combination designed to impart nearly ninety degree (90) rotation to the cams and hence to the louvers to which they are attached in the endwise movement of one rail parallel to the other;

(2) A cam and twin rail combination as just mentioned in which the movable rail has a lift lug provided thereon near its upper end spaced below its socket for a rounded projection on one side of the uppermost cam, so that all of the cams, after being given the nearly ninety degree (90) movement with the top cam in closing the window can be made to slide with the top cam in the further upward movement of the movable rail relative to the fixed rail in which the rounded projections on the opposite side of the cams are also operable in sockets, thus permitting whatever upward movement is needed to close the window tightly;

(3) A cam and twin rail combination of the kind mentioned in which all of the rounded projections on the cams, although disengageable from their sockets in the upward movement of the movable rail toward the closed position of the louvers are returned into their sockets by engagement with inward cam projections provided below the sockets on the fixed rail and above the sockets on the movable rail in the openings of the window, the cams being all so recessed on opposite sides as to allow only a predetermined amount of overrun in the downward direction of the movable rail to the open position of the louvers, whereupon an interlocking action occurs bet-ween the cams and rails on said cam projections positively preventing further movement of the'movable rail in the opening direction, thereby indicating to the operator when the window is fully opened and so distributing the load throughout the structure thatthere is no likelihood of breakage, and

(4) A window of the kind described in which the lower-most louver interhooks with a curved flange on the bottom crosspiece on the window frame for a tight seal there, and the uppermost louver in the closing of the window moves into place behind a top seal strip, thereby insuring against air seepage throughout the structure, inasmuch as all the intermediate louvers are interhooked and drawn up tightly in the closing of the window as previously mentioned.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a three-louvered jalousie window structure made in accordance with our invention, it being understood, of course, that this is intended to be merely illustrative of the construction and that most windows will include many more louvers, the window illustrated being shown in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a similar section of an intermediate portion of the height of another window showing the louvers opened;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the two top-most cams for the topmost louver showing the same in the closed position of the window and illustrating how additional upward movement of the movable rail is permitted, as in drawing up tightly on the int'erhooked louvers to make the window airtight;

FIG. 4 is a similar view of one of the other cams provided on opposite ends of the other louvers showing the same in an intermediate position and indicating the freedom of movement of the movable rail up or down;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the same cam with the movable rail moved farther down in' the opening of the window;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the same cam in the extreme open position locking the parts against any further movement of the movable rail except in an upward direction toward closed position;

FIG. 7 shows one rear corner of the present window structure with the louvers open;

FIG. 8 is a similar view with the louvers closed;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing crank operated means whereby the movable rails on both sides of the window are movable up or down simultaneously and to the same extent by the operation of the hand crank, shown as located at the middle at the lower end of the window;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal section through a window frame showing how the louvers are adapted to interhook for sealing purposes at opposite ends with vertical channels provided on the window frame while the cams on the opposite ends of the louvers are arranged to cooperate with fixed and movable rails of a twin rail construction, and

FIG. 11 is a blown illustrated in FIG. 10. Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6 ing of our invention, th considered a typical upp mediate louver, and 14 15 may be considered a typical louver which there are two on opposite ends integral therewith or fastened thereto ner to turn therewith. Each cam 15 has diametrically opposed rounded pivotal projections 16 and 17 for a sliding pivotal engagement in sockets 1S nad 19, respectively, provided in a fixed rail 20 and a companion movable rail 21, respectively, the rails being associated parts of what we have previously referred to as twin rails of a cam and twin rail combination. Under each of the sockets 18 there are cam projections 22 which cooperate with the rounded projections 16 on one side of the cams 15 and their arcuate recesses 23 provided on that same side of the cams, while other similar shaped cam projections 24 are provided on the movable rail 21 above the recesses 19 for cooperation in a similar way with the rounded projections 17 on that side of the cams and the arcuate recesses 25 provided on that same side of the cams next to the projections 17. Projections 22 and 24 serve a triple purpose; first of all, in the downward movement of the movable rail 21 from the extreme closed position, shown in FIG. 3, these projec- -up perspective of the components for a general understande reference numeral 12 may be ermost louver, 13 a typical intera typical lowermost louver, while 3 I A tions limit the lost-motion of the cams with respect to the two rails and 21 and cause the rounded projections 16 and 17 to enter the sockets 18 and 19, respectively, whereupon the projections 22 and 24 cause the turning of the cams 15 in a clockwise or opening direction upon further downward movement of the movable rail 21, and, finally, when the movable rail 21 reaches its extreme lower position, as seen in FIG. 6, the projections 22 and 24 interlock with the recessed portions 23 and 25 of the cams 15 to limit further downward movement positively, thereby indicating to the operator when the window is fully opened. There is no likelihood of breakage under these conditions, because of the wide distribution of the stresses.

The movable rail 21, of which there is one for each end of the set of louvers, has an inward projection 26 on its upper end portion below the topmost socket 19, and thisprojection 26 serves by engagement in the recess 23 on the lower side of the uppermost cam 15 to lock the cam against further counterclockwise movement when the louvers have all been closed, and then lift the top cam 15 and the top louver 12 with it, so that the upwardly flanged lower edges 27 of allof the louvers, which are interhooked with the downwardly flanged upper edges 28 of neighboring louvers, can be brought into tight engagement for a good sealing action. The entire series of louvers is thereby drawn up tightly, inasmuch as the upwardly flanged lower edge 27 of the lowermost louver 14 isinterhooked with a downwardly flanged upper edge'portion 29 on a bottom cross-piece 30 on the window frame, to limit upward travel of the lowermost louver and prow'de anairtight seal for it and enable take-up of play between all of the louvers from the lower end to the upper end of the window for the same airtight fit at every joint and eliminate likelihood of air seepage at any point. The uppermost louver 12 has an upwardly flanged upper edge portion 31 which, in the drawing up of the set of louvers for an airtight fit at all of the joints, as just described, is arranged to move upwardly into place behind a seal strip 32 of compressible resilient material provided in a channel in the top cross-piece 33 on the window frame.

For sealing purposes at opposite ends of the louvers, any of the means presently employed on jalousie windows 'of other constructions may be used. However, we prefer to provide verti-extending channels 34 on the outer side of louvers at opposite ends for interfitting engagement in vertical channels 35 provided on the sides of the window frame,'the channels 35 being on the outer side portion of the side rails 36 of the window frame. Each of the channels 34 has an enlarged lower end portion 37 which overlaps the upper end portion 38 of the next channel 34 there'beneath so that there are no gaps left through which air seepage might occur, even though the channels 34 will, of course, have a certain amount of endwise movement relative to one another in the drawing up of the series of louvers into tight interhooked relationship as previously described, the collars 37 on the various louvers being of sufiicient vertical dimension to allow for the slight vertical movement of one louver with respect to its-neighboring louver in the closed position of the louvers.

Of course, other constructions might be devised, "out we have shown in FIG. 11 how the movable rail 21 fits in a guide channel 39 that is entered in the channel 40 provided in the window frame, while an angle iron strip the rotation of which causes oscillation of two bell-crank levers which transmit vertical reciprocatory movement to rails on opposite sides of the window that operate the louvers, and a construction of that kind may (be suitable for the present purposes also. However, as indicated in FIG. 9, where. we have shown a hand-crank 43 turning iii a worm inside thehousing 44 meshing with a worm gear that transmits rotation to a shaft 45 extending horizontally from opposite sides of the,housing 44 into housings 46 fixed to the window frame at the sill level or lower, this shaft serves to operate worms in said housings that are in meshing engagement with worm gears that operate nuts threading on vertically extending jack screws 47 keyed against turning but slidable vertically in guides 48 extending downwardly from the housings 46, these screws 47 being attached, as at 49, to lugs projecting from the movable rails 21.

In operation, it should be clear that when the crank 43 is turned in one direction the jack screws 47 will cause upward movement of the rails 21 to close the louvers, the rounded projections 16 and 17, operating in the sockets 1-8 and 19, respectively, causing counterclockwise rotation of the cams 15 and corresponding counterclockwise move ment of the louvers toward closed position. The downwa'rdly flanged uppe-r edges 28 on the louvers interhook with the upwardly flanged lower edges 27 of the neighboring louvers as the louvers reach their closed position, whereupon the continued turning of the crank 43 in the same direction causes the projections 26 on the upper ends of the rails 21 to raise the uppermost earns 15 and the uppermost louver 12 with them, as illustrated in FIG. 3, thereby withdrawing the rounded projections 16 and 17 of all of the cams 15 from sockets 18 and 19 and sliding the earns 15 upwardly to whatever extent is necessary to take up all of the play in the entire series of louvers, the lowermost louver 14 in this operation having its upwardly flanged lower edge 27 interhooked with the downwardly flanged upper edge portion 29 of the bottom cross-piece 30 to limit upward travel of the series of louvers while at the same time making the joint at 27 and 29 airtight and allowing similar tightness of joints at all of the other louvers at 27-28, while the upwardly flanged edge 3-1 on the uppermost louver moves into an airtight joint at 3233. Meanwhile the channels 34 on opposite ends of the several louvers were brought into inte'rfitting relationship to one another and to the channels 35 on the window frame 36 to complete the tight sealing of the window throughout. Of course, when the crank 43 is turned in the opposite direction, the window is opened, cams 15 being turned in a clockwise direction after the cams are first allowed to move down far enough to unlock the top louver 12 at 31-33 and the lowermost louver 14 at 27-20 and enter the rounded projections 16 and 17 in the sockets 1'8 and 19, respectively.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of our invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

We claim:

1. In a jalousie window, a generally rectangular frame a plurality of spaced parallel louvers pivotally and slidably mounted by one longitudinal edge portion at their opposite ends in opposed side portions of said frame, an endmost one of said louvers having along its outer longitudinal edge an inwardly projecting flange interhookable in' an outwardly projecting flange on a cross-piece in the adjacent end of said frame, all of the other of said louvers having an inwardly projecting flange on the outer longitudinal edge thereof for interhook-able engagement on outwardly projecting flanges on the inner or pivoted longitudinal edges of the neighboring louvers including the first endmost one, but excluding the other endmost one, means for turning all of said louvers in one direction about their pivots in one direction for opening and in the opposite direction for closing, said means being operatively connected with all of said louvers alike, excepting that the last named .endmost louver ismovable by said means in a direction away from all of the other louvers ,after the interhooking of the outwardly extending and inwardly extending flanges on neighboring louvers so that the interhooked louvers are all pulled into tighter interhooked relationship for good sealing action :and the first endmost louver is similarly pulled into tighter interhooked relationship with the aforesaid cross-piece and means for operating the last mentioned means.

2. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pivots for each of said louvers include a pair of coaxially arranged cams rigid with opposite ends of each louve'r, each eam having diametrically opposed rounded projections pivotally and slidably engage-able in sockets provided therefor on the inner sides of a pair of spaced parallel rail's one of which rails is fixed and the other reciprocable relative to the fixed rail, the fixed rail having inward projections provided thereon coincident with one side of the sockets, and the movable rail having inward projections provided thereon coincident with the opposite side of the sockets therein, whereby in the movement of the movable rail in one direction for closing the window said cams have their rounded projections disengaged from said sockets so that the cams are slidable between said rails but, upon reverse movement of said movable rail in .a window opening direction, said inward projections on said fixed rail limit the sliding movement of said cams in that direction and the inward projections on the two rails in the further movement of the movable rail in the same direction reenter said sockets for rotary movement of said vcams to turn said louvers accordingly.

3. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pivots for each of said louvers include a pair of coaxially arranged cams rigid with opposite ends of each louver, each cam having diametrically opposed rounded projections pivotally and slidably engageable in sockets provided therefor on the inner sides of a pair of spaced parallel rails, one of which is fixed and the other reciprocable relative to the fixed rail, the fixed rail having inward projections provided thereon coincident with one side of the sockets, and the movable rail having inward projections provided thereon coincident with the opposite side of the sockets therein, whereby in the movement of the movable rail in one direction for closing the window said cams have their rounded projections disengaged from said sockets so that the cams are slidable between said rails but, upon reverse movement of said movable rail in a window opening direction, said inward projections on said fixed rail limit the sliding movement of said cams in that direction and the inward projections on the two rails in the further movement of the movable rail in the same direction reenter said sockets for rotary movement of said cams to turn said louvers accordingly, the inward projections on said rails cooperating with said rounded projections and recesses provided in said cams adjacent said projections positively to limit further movement of the movable rail in the window opening direction, thereby predeterminating the extreme position of said louvers for the full opening of the window.

4. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 including interhookable flanges provided on the ends of the louvers and on the adjacent side portions of the frame arranged to be interhooked when the louvers are closed but arranged so as not to interfere with the opening of said louvers.

5. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 including interhookable flanges provided on the ends of the louvers and on the adjacent side portions of the frame arranged to be interhooked when the louvers are closed but arranged so as not to interfere with the opening of said louvers, said flanges on said louvers being defined on channel shaped rib portions on the outer sides of said louvers at the ends thereof, one end of each channel being enlarged to overlap the other end of the channel on the next louver.

6. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 including interhookable flanges provided on the ends of the louvers and on the adjacent side portions of the frame arranged to be interhooked when the louvers are closed but arranged so as not to interfere with the opening of said louvers, said flanges on said louvers being defined on channel shaped rib portions on the outer sides of said louvers at the ends thereof, one end of each channel being enlarged to overlap the other end of the channel on the next louver, the enlarged channel portions being elongated to provide enough overlap to maintain a seal despite the endwise movement of said channel shaped rib portions relative to one another in the drawing up of the louvers into tighter interhooked relationship.

7. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second mentioned endmost louver when moved away from the other louvers after the interhooking of the outwardly extending and inwardly extending flanges on neighboring louvers is arranged to move into sealing relationship to a cross-piece on the adjacent end of said frame.

8. A jalousie window structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second mentioned endmost louver when moved away from the other louvers after the interhookin-g of the outwardly extending and inwardly extending flanges on neighboring louvers, is arranged to move into sealing relationship to a cross-piece on the adjacent end of said frame, this endmost louver having on its inner or pivoted longitudinal edge portion an inwardly projecting flange engageable behind an outwardly projecting flange provided on the last mentioned cross-piece.

No references cited.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

PHILLIP C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A JALOUSIE WINDOW, A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME, A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL LOUVERS PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED BY ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTION AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS IN OPPOSED SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME, AN ENDMOST ONE OF SAID LOUVERS HAVING ALONG ITS OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE AN INWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE INTERHOOKABLE IN AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE ON A CROSS-PIECE IN THE ADJACENT END OF SAID FRAME, ALL OF THE OTHER OF SAID LOUVERS HAVING AN INWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE ON THE OUTER LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOF INTERHOOKABLE ENGAGEMENT ON OUTWARDLY PORJECTING FLANGES ON THE INNER OR PIVOTED LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE NEIGHBORING LOUVERS INCLUDING THE FIRST ENDMOST ONE, BUT EXCLUDING THE OTHER ENDMOST ONE, MEANS FOR TURNING ALL OF SAID LOUVERS IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT THEIR PIVOTS IN ONE DIRECTION FOR OPENING AND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION FOR CLOSING, SAID MEANS BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH ALL OF SAID LOVERS ALIKE, EXCEPTING 